Macy’s CEO to American People: Drop Dead

As a Thanksgiving treat, Terry Lundgren wants to gut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Macy’s is a powerful symbol of Thanksgiving, with its festive parade and freakishly large floats. But Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren is part of a group of greedy, unpatriotic CEOs who would like to seize this moment of American hardship and tear the rug out from under hard-working families. Moms, dads, grandparents, kids—he’d like to take a little something from each of you. Especially if you're poor: he’d really like to get into your purses.

Lundgren and a coalition of other big-time CEOs are lobbying Congress to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits so that they can enjoy tax breaks. Obviously, Lundgren did not take Econ 101, which would have demonstrated to him that reaching into the pockets of people will leave them without enough dollars to buy your products. It’s very simple, Mr. Lundgren. Your job and your stores are supported by the spending power of the American consumer. Robbing that consumer by hacking away at hard-earned retirements and healthcare is not going to help your bottom line.
http://www.alternet.org/economy/macys-ceo-american-people-drop-dead

28. Boycott Walmart

103. Boycott all greed this Holiday Season and boycott Black Friday

Black Friday is the antithesis of everything Christmas is supposed to stand for, whether you believe in Jesus or not. It is supposed to be about the spirit of giving of yourself and to others and not about who can snag the best deals on a flat-screen TV after stampeding into your local Wal-Mart and pushing, shoving and cursing others to do so. I participated in one Black Friday 10 years ago to try and get great bargains on toys my son wanted so as to make his Christmas extra special. I remember leaving my local Wally Mart feeling depressed and having the spirit of Christmas sucked right out of me after that experience. Never again.

108. That is the only way to 'teach em.'

When possible , don't give them our money. That is why the Republicans fight so hard to not tolerate 'disclosure ' under Citizen's United. Sites such as Buy Blue gives you and idea of which CEO's are less hateful.
. Move On circulated a petition to have Macy's not market Donald Trump's crap( clothes, etc.) I guess this means the answer is likely NO.. Last I knew that Move On Petition to Macy's was signed by about 250,000 citizens.

58. the

greed of some prominent americans is just disgustingly pathetic. well they can't take it with them which a small consolation. the fact that they must die one day is a large consolation. may they choke on their greedy spittle.

19. probably because they simultaneously buy our politicians..

30. And Mitt still lost.

Between the CEOs and Wall Street, I only have one thing to say...

Wall Street’s Bad Investment Decision

There are many lists now circulating of the biggest winners and losers from the election; oddly, however, none of the lists I’ve seen mentions just how bad this result is for Wall Street’s Masters of the Universe.

The story, as you may recall, is that the financial industry — having brought both itself and the rest of the world to the edge of disaster — was bailed out by taxpayers. Yet far from being grateful, top financial types were furious at Obama for occasionally hinting that some of them might have misbehaved a bit. And investment bankers — who normally lean Democratic — went overwhelmingly to the other side, pouring cash into Mitt Romney’s coffers in the no doubt correct expectation that a Romney administration would dismantle financial reform and treat their wealth with the adulation they believe to be their birthright.

But Romney lost and Obama won. The limits of their power have been cruelly exposed, and the reelected president now owes them nothing. Did I mention that Elizabeth Warren is going to the Senate — a Senate that will be substantially more progressive and less Wall Street friendly than before?

26. Exactly. And perhaps the parade should be picketed?

62. Why it S**KS to work Black Friday!

Boycott and Picket them! It is time to Stand up for Workers Rights!
I work in retail. At least I work for a company that does not completly abuse their workers holidays. This push for more money in CEO pocket's while paying minimum wage. Giving out raises that do not cover inflation!

10. And we were told to be silent about SS until after the election. THIS IS

WHY the people can never be silent and especially during election season.

He and 80 other CEOs were busy lobbying Congress against SS during election season, knowing full well that that is the best time to let Congress know what you want.

I have come to the conclusion that the tactic of trying to silence the people 'because there's an election coming up' is a strategy invented by Corporate America. What better way for them to have Congress' ear with NO input from the people, at a time when Congress is most susceptible to the people knowing clearly where they stand on the issues.

13. So why would "politically liberal people" here in DU try to discourage

speaking out on issues during election season?

Seems that they are so afraid that any discussion other than accolades for Democrats hurt the chances of Democrats being elected.
If that's what they think, I do not agree. In fact I would venture that they dont know Democrats. We are strong because of our differences and we get stronger because of our lively debates.

90. NP. Glad you understand. nm

42. Generally it's because they fear that their party might not

be on the right side of important issues and their reasoning is that if we remain silent and no one exposes those positions, we can deal with it AFTER the election.

Then there are the Corporate interests who actually do not want the people to have a voice so that they have total control over Congress especially during election season when politicians are more likely to try to please the voters.

And it's getting hard to tell who is who. All I know is I hope we completely dispense with this tactic because it works against the people and is suspect for that very reason.

We should speak out louder than ever DURING election seasons from now on.

The good news is that they were ignored this time. Major Unions began forming huge coalitions with Progressive Organizations and SS advocacy groups BEFORE the election letting Politicians know we are watching them and they better not think they can use the Lame Congress to implement any backroom deals.

Letting them know this BEFORE the election, and this coalition said outright that while they most likely would vote for Dems, they 'do not trust them'. Good for them to hear the truth for a change. As a result they forced them to meet with Progressives this time instead of just Corporate lobbyists.

We ARE getting smarter, paying less attention to the suspect voices trying to silence people, and more to focusing on letting politicians know that there will be consequences is they betray the people and their DC club is no longer a safe place to do it.

A major bloc of 29 senators took a strong stand today against any cuts to Social Security as part of a deficit reduction deal. "We will oppose including Social Security cuts for future or current beneficiaries in any deficit reduction package," the senators said in a letter circulated by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the founder of the Senate Defending Social Security Caucus. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate's No. 3 leader, signed the letter. So did Sens. Mark Begich, Sheldon Whitehouse and Al Franken, who joined Sanders at a Capitol news conference.

Social Security has not contributed to the deficit or to the national debt, the senators said. The program that benefits more than 50 million retirees, widows, widowers, orphans and disabled Americans has a $2.7 trillion surplus and, according to actuaries, will be able to pay every benefit owed to every eligible recipient for the next 21 years.

"Contrary to some claims, Social Security is not the cause of our nation's deficit problem. Not only does the program operate independently, but it is prohibited from borrowing," the letter said. "Even though Social Security operates in a fiscally responsible manner, some still advocate deep benefit cuts and seem convinced that Social Security hands out lavish welfare checks. But Social Security is not welfare. Seniors earned their benefits by working and paying into the system," the letter added.

Social Security has not contributed to deficits because it has a dedicated funding stream. Workers and employers each pay half of a 12.4 percent payroll tax on the first $110,100 of a worker's wages. The tax rate for employees was reduced to 4.2 percent in 2011 and 2012, but is scheduled to return to 6.2 percent in January.

Me, I oppose right wing policy and believe in holding politicians' feet to the fire to get THEM to oppose it, no matter if those pushing it are Democrats or Republicans. I guess I'm just one of those vomit-slurping PURISTS!

Me, I oppose right wing policy and believe in holding politicians' feet to the fire to get THEM to oppose it, no matter if those pushing it are Democrats or Republicans. I guess I'm just one of those vomit-slurping PURISTS!

74. First of all, it's *easy* to vote for the candidate whose policies you support

Second, to be blunt, my vote is none of your fucking business. But I will say this: If you were *honest* about reading my posts and taking note of what is in them, you would not dare to ask this ridiculous and insulting question here, on a Democratic message board, because I have made clear repeatedly my view of the lesser of two evils game in which we Americans are deliberately trapped by the one percent in both parties, and the fact that I fully intended to have to hold back my vomit as I capitulated to this game.

The difference between us, as I see it, is not in the voting booth, but in our political behavior. I have posted *consistently* how important it is to hold our purchased politicians' feet to the fire, particularly on issues and values that define the soul of our party, and the abandonment of which will result in unfathomable despair, pain and even death for millions of vulnerable Americans. I don't think I've EVER seen a more ironic and outrageous post here than yours right now in this thread, rhapsodizing about people fighting hard to protect SS benefits, when you yourself spent month after month after month before the election doing your Third Way best to mock such efforts by Democrats and to attack Democrats who recommended doing just that.

And when cuts are passed, you will defend them, of course. Because of that utterly consistent, predictable Third Way philosophy you bring to these boards every day....which really should have been an inspirational bumper sticker for this election:

76. "Second, to be blunt, my vote is none of your fucking business."

81. What word? Come on out and say it, Prosense.

Obviously there is some dark insinuation here that is supposed to be side-splitting, yet you are reluctant to say it out loud. Why?

I have been very clear about the problem I have with your tactics, which would also include the juvenile, smearing, McCarthyistic nonsense you are trying to employ right here.* The line you cut and pasted here was part of an entire paragraph of context, which was part of an entire post full of context, yet you seem determined to ignore and to try to misrepresent what I actually wrote. How about you address what I actually wrote, rather than playing these games?

84. Stop projecting

I have been very clear about the problem I have with your tactics, which would also include the juvenile, smearing, McCarthyistic nonsense you are trying to employ right here.* The line you cut and pasted here was part of an entire paragraph of context, which was part of an entire post full of context, yet you seem determined to ignore and to try to misrepresent what I actually wrote. How about you address what I actually wrote, rather than playing these games?

...and the word is "afraid."

How about you stop pretending that you're more principled than everyone else? No one cares if you held your nose and voted. Hiding behind the sad screams that everyone is Third Way because you held your nose and voted is pathetic.

A lot of progressive voted for President Obama, and they don't have to prove it by employing bullshit tactics to make them feel better about themselves.

It's no one else's problem that you're not comfortable with your vote. It's no one else's fault that your vote makes you sick to your stomach. You chose to compromise your principles to vote, deal with it and own up to it.

127. No, Prosense, people do care.

In fact, that's the biggest mistake the Third Way makes. They make the terrible mistake of assuming that enthusiasm for and loyalty to a party can be decoupled from the actual values, principles, and policies that the party was founded upon and that drew people to it in the first place. They work from a narrow, right-wing point of view that believes people can be baited, bullied and shamed into cheering for, or at least shutting up about, even policies that actively trash those values, as long as those policies come from people with D's after their names. They are shameless in their insistence that "EITHER WAY!" is okay, even when the issue is fundamental safety nets that millions of Americans rely upon in order to avoid destitution, despair, and premature death in old age.

Huffy Third Way denials notwithstanding, principle is based on consistency of actions much more than saying one holds a value. You can only claim to stand for certain values and principles for so long, while actively excusing and shilling for policies that are diametrically opposed to them and attacking those who try to point out the disconnect, before somebody calls out the hypocrisy. That's why the Third Way calls of "EITHER WAY!" don't cut it for long.

I strongly recommend this thread as an excellent reminder of how much people actually DO care: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021865474I notice you posted there advocating a very nice liberal position that no prominent Democrat is even talking about as a real possibility right now, yet you avoided giving an answer to the question the OP actually asked. I think that's because we all know the Third Way will be cheering the outcome, "EITHER WAY!"

128. No one cares that you chose to compromise your principles.

I strongly recommend this thread as an excellent reminder of how much people actually DO care: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021865474I notice you posted there advocating a very nice liberal position that no prominent Democrat is even talking about as a possibility right now, yet you avoided giving an answer to the question the OP actually asked. I think that's because we all know the Third Way will be cheering the outcome, "EITHER WAY!"

91. Ah, I think you're confused. n/t

79. Still, let's unwrap this:

"believe in holding politicians' feet to the fire"

How?

"I have made clear repeatedly my view of the lesser of two evils game in which we Americans are deliberately trapped by the one percent in both parties, and the fact that I fully intended to have to hold back my vomit as I capitulated to this game."

How big of you, but how exactly are you holding anyone accountable?

As least I believe in my vote, and am happy as shit that I cast it. I'm thrilled my candidate won, and am confident he'll deliver...you know the "gifts."

77. And another thing: "I guess I'm just one of those vomit-slurping PURISTS! "

96. The only thing we want to hear from elected officials is this:

SS did not have anything to do with the Deficit, therefore we will not tolerate any attempt to attach SS to Deficit reduction discussions.

'No cuts' doesn't mean 'no cuts'. It means 'Chained CPI', or 'raise the retirement age' etc etc. We know all the tricks, so it's best they abandon any attempt to pass anything off that in any way reduces benefits, now or in the future. Benefits should be RAISED. That money belongs to the people and they have zero right to touch it.

The only honest and therefore acceptable thing to do is to remove SS from any discussion of the Deficit. It had nothing to do with it, yet we keep hearing 'SS/Deficit' talk more than we hear anything about the real causes of the Deficit.

Why was it ever included in these discussions?

And they better realize that we are not fooled by deception, by Chained CPI talk or any other clever ways they have already made deals over thinking we won't notice. NO SS ON THE TABLE Period! Whatever deals were made they need to cancel, or there will be consequences.

SS is NOT in trouble, there is urgency to talk about it right now.

Oh yes and Republicans need to be bombarded with phone calls and emails so they understand we will work to get rid of them even harder, if they continue their lies about SS. And they need to know we know they are lying.

109. well, clinton signed it (which was shocking to me)

but it was a repug, poppy's treaty. why do you think i voted and prayed that clinton won? NAFTA was already being discussed while poppy was president.

of course, i actually hoped for a lot of things that didn't see the light of day. like the investigation of iran-contra, the death of daniel casolero and the rest of bad, corrupt business dealings going on.

126. If I can find one I will get back to you on that list!

110. and that's why with global corporations

who'd rather not obey any country's regulations and laws-that just move to another country when labor or people squeal about their pollution or business dealings-we need a global union to represent all labor around the world.

because the more profit made, the more power they garner with greedy, corrupt governments. more power and influence over the people. i'm not against business, especially businesses that actually care about communities and people. but, we're talking about predatory capitalists who only care about profits, line their pockets--if they poisoned millions of people to make a buck, they'd do it. hershey started his business to make money, but also to help his community. now look at hershey? to me, even their quality has gone down, because they want more profit on the cheap.

oh, and these CEOs are more robber baron american from a hundred years ago. ones who influenced wars, ones who sold the government tainted meat and defective arms, ones who killed, screwed labor. another words, they are not americans to me. so, this greedy CEO, like the other asinines can go @#*@ themselves.

17. Time to cut up my card

18. Can someone please take a minute and explain to me,

why they are all so hell bent on cutting into Social Security? For the life of me I can not comprehend why it bothers them so much. I have paid into that program all my working life and do not believe that it would take anything away from them. It is solvent and well, I just don`t get it.

27. Two reasons mainly: If the Trust Fund is moved from being overseen by government, at very low cost

to being managed by Wall Street bankers, they can make a huge fee for oversight. And, the SS Trust Fund can be borrowed, using IOUs, so that most of the interest on that the big chunk accrued, will go to the borrower instead of being returned to the Fund. (Usury is a sin according to the Bible.) The IOU can be called back in at any time. Our Trust money can be used as an investment, to make money for someone else instead of the insured/payroll tax payers.

75. Yes, part of the reason is the huge amount of money that stays

in the public trust so it can pay benefits. The bankers and Wall Street want that public money, just like they want and take other public money; FHA insured mortgages and Medicare Advantage to name just two.
The big reason the CEO's hate Social Security and Medicare is that THEY MUST ALSO PAY INTO IT!!! They match their employee's contribution to the national retirement and health care system and they don't want to pay. It's that damn simple. They no longer need to provide pensions for employees and can choose to contribute whatever pittance they want to an employee's retirement plan. Just think how huge their profits would be if they didn't have to pay the 7.5 (or so)% to support a bunch of non taxpaying leeches who have the nerve to retire and have health care benefits. So much better if working people just dropped dead at work.

37. I went on a walk through the NYC store

more of a walk than I wanted to take, actually, because it just kept going and going and going... eventually I was able to find a route down and out on the 7th or 8th floor. The clothes, which were the only thing I looked at a price on, were a bit pricey for my blood. I've never bought anything at one.

23. All the screaming about SocSec

is the biggest red herring on the planet, there's no reason to cut it, has nothing to do with the deficit and is a smokescreen to keep the electorate from standing their ground. It's the war machine, stupid. These bastards are promoting austerity so they can continue to rob the rest of the world of resources, retain slave labor and promote wars while we pay for them. In their next breath the claim that the DoD budget be increased and that we can't afford to cut defense funds and a host of other stupid crap to keep us on edge. What we need to do is not buy into the BS and tell them to sit down, STFU, and listen to us because we aren't going to buy anything at their stores and maybe not even watch their stupid parade that is basically homage to the corporatocracy and tells us we should go shopping while they rob us blind on shit that was made in China for nothing. Wake up and stop feeding the beast. They can drop dead, we don;t even need their slave wage jobs, we can form coops and supply ourselves with goods and jobs without them... all we have to do is organize and prioritize, folks. It's not that hard.

There is no need to even consider putting that social safety net anywhere in the conversation. We have already made our sacrifice by fighting their damned wars, working for little and losing our housing and lives for them when they got bailed out, so it's their turn now.

32. Well there goes my yearly reward new-outfit I buy from Macy's. BOYCOTT.

33. Can someone find contact info on this slimeball. I can end business for Macys

for 82,000 people...at least those on my Diabetic website that shop there. My wife and I don't effective now. I will cut the cards up tomorrow when I can wrench the one from my wife. Thanks for this info. I have other beefs with Macy's.

44. Are these people self-destructive or what?

Nothing like really pissing off your customers. The logic is beyond me. Just like the election lets make women and minority groups mad as hell at us and then act surprised and shocked that they don`t vote for us. My goodness but these people are ill. It is absolutely mind boggling.

50. Hey...it works!

55. My pleasure. I'm busy contacting me people but I'm too tired to

do this tonight. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving at the Alzheimer's hospital where I do volunteer work. These folks still remember Thanksgiving, are great at cross-word puzzles and some art projects. But they forget my name like 20 minutes after I tell them. But they remember the songs this dude sings when he comes. Some magician came for a magic show today and all the residents came to the first floor to watch it. I feel bad for these people. They are mostly rich, but they lost their ability to think. Hard to understand God.

66. My mom died last year from having it for many years. It's a horrible disease, and thank you

for the volunteer work you are doing with these folks. It does take a lot of patience, but interacting with other people at least helps them keep their dignity, instead of just sitting or lying there. Not everybody can endure the experience of being around it, because it reminds all of us that it could happen to anybody.

72. Douchbag

78. Just contacted Macy's...

and broke up with them...ended our longtime relationship. Makes me sad, it was always one of our stops when in NYC at Christmas time. I'm so pissed off right now, why do these people have to be so damn greedy?

101. American People to Macy's CEO "You first"

106. Great article and very true

The true producers in this county are the consumers--without thier $, these companies make no profit. Who are you going to see your goods/services to if NO ONE can afford them? I'm sick of these greedy bastards insisting that we cut the social safety net because we can't afford it--yet we MUST give them tax breaks. This has NEVER worked, and won't again. Unless we protect the middle class and help those who need it--which is why we have Medicare, Social Security, unemployment insurance et all. is becuase it protects the class of people who buy your stuff you moron!! I'm not an economist, but since the crash in '08, I've done a lot of reading and research about how our money is created and how our eonomy works. What I found is that these twits and thier brethren in DC could care less and use fear to try and convince the American people that we have to cut these important programs in order to save our country. What we will do, however, is kill this country by doing so.

112. REALLLLLLLLLLLLLY asshole!? nt

113. Go Local

Mr. Lundgren also fails to realize how easy it is for his customers to shop somewhere else. Preferably, to buy local from local independent businesses. And how easy it is to spread the word to boycott Macy's.

115. You need to understand

that having poor people in rags, begging outside of Macy's in the snow on Christmas Eve makes a nice Dickensian backdrop to wealthy patrons entering the brightly lit and cheery store after dropping a few coppers on the respectful riffraff.

116. K & R !!!

117. Macy's bought Frederick and Nelson's

dept store here and erased it, changing it to Macy's. That was bad enough but Macy's itself has deteriorated from a halfway decent place to shop, to now being hardly better than Sears or Kmart. Worthless.